Egypt’s Parliament Convenes After 3 Years of Inactivity

Egypt’s parliament, which is the legislative arm of government has just been inaugurated yesterday after 3 years of inactivity caused by the dissolution of the former President’s government, President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

The 596-seat chamber packed with supporters of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, held its inaugural session yesterday, signaling the completion of a political road map first announced in 2013. The Egypt’s parliament inaugural session was made up of majorly the taking of oaths and other procedures. The parliament was voted between November and December 2015.

Egypt’s Parliament: Members of Parliament

The parliament is tasked with the giving of assent to over 300 presidential decrees already issued by the current president of the country, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. The parliament has just 15 days to assent its consent to these decrees else the decrees stand null and avoid under the new constitution the country is being governed with.

According to press sources from Egypt, some of the decrees includes but not limited to; a law severely restricting street demonstrations and a terror law that curbs press freedoms and gives police vast powers. Although some have argued that these decrees are draconian but the parliament is tasked with the responsibility to ensure that these decrees do not infringe on the fundamental human rights of Egyptians.

Egypt is steadily on its way to a democratic rule and the inauguration of its parliamentary body is seen as a step in the right direction. I do hope that the country gets it right.